Clamp for spherical joints



NOV. 6, 19%5. C 35 wQQDY 2,388,633

I CLAMP FOR SPHERICAL JOINTS Filed Dec. 23, 1943 filer/as /1 /Z fie Woody,

Patented Nov. 6, 1945 CLAMP FOR SPHERICAL JOINTS Charles M. De Woody, Vineland, N. J., assignor to- Ace Glass Incorporated, Vineland,

poration of New Jersey Application December 23, 1943, Serial No. 515,443

Claims.

individual bolts, and that such a clamp permits,

leakage through the joint, especially in areas between the bolts, when elevated internal pressures are used, The natural reaction in. such cases is to further tighten the bolts, which more often than not results in breakage of the female flanged portion because of the severe strain.

The primary object of the invention is to overcome such difliculties and to provide means whereby a sufliciently uniform circumferential pressure may be produced upon the ball and socket when the clamp is tightened, to eliminate leakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination spherica1 joint and clamping means in which the clamp and ball member may .be connected with the socket member to provide a complete joint even though the socket member is so arranged that the clamp could not be applied from the smaller end thereof. 7

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diametrical sectional view partly in elevation of a spherical joint in which the parts are held together by my improved clamp.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the sp11t rings forming part of the clamp,

Fig. 4 is a similar view of an elastic ring which maybe used in place of a split ring.

N. J., a corsocket terminates in an outwardly extending annular flange 8.

In accordance with my invention, the joint is held together and maintained in a leak-proof condition by a clamp consisting mainly of male and female collars respectively designated 9 and I0, having threaded engagement with one another as indicated at II. Collar III is provided at one end with an outwardly extending annular flange I2 bordering an aperture I3 of suflicient size to pass by the flange 8 when the collar II] is slipped over the socket from the open end thereof. The flange I2 forms an annular shelf I4 within the collar I0, serving as an abutment surface for a split ring I5 which may be formed of resilient material so that it may readily contract to snugly engage the external surface of the socket. The split ring is, also, designed to abut against the inner face of the flange 8,

Collar 9 is provided internally with an annular surface I6, preferably flaring toward the flange 8 and designed to serve as an abutment for another preferably resilient split ring I! adapted to hug the surface of the ball above the largest (horizontal) circumference thereof.

Instead of using split rings, I may employ a stretchable rubber ring I9 (Fig. 4) in substitution for either ring I5 or I9.

To facilitate tightening of the clamp, the collar 9 may be provided with cavities I8 for the reception of a suitable tool.

In placing the clamp in position, the threaded collars are passed over the female and male sections respectively and moved back from the joint, The split rings are then passed over the tubing and inserted in the collars. The latter are then brought together and tightened by means of the threads,

When the clamp is in position, it will be noted that there is sufficient clearance between the protruding flange B and the inner end of the collar 9 to permit leak-proof movements of the joint. It is for this reason that the split ring I! contacts the upper part of the ball section at the midpoint. While the split ring I5 is not shown in this position relative to the socket, it will be understood that its position is not strictly limited.

From the foregoing it is believed that my improved clamp and the advantages thereof may be readily understood, and it is manifest that changes may be made in the details disclosed Without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

the members of the joint. 15;

2. The combination with a spherical joint including ball and socket members provided. with parti-spherical outer surfaces; of'blamping'means" consisting of a plurality of collars; having threaded engagement with one another, the 20 smallest internal diameter of one of the collars being of sufficient size to permit saidcollrr-t'o be passedendwise over the endof tlie socket member; the smallest internal diameterof the other'collar--being-onsufficient size to allow the 25 last mentionedcollar 'to be slipped endwise over the ball m'emb er, eachcollar being prorvided with aninternal annular'surface arrarrged at an angle to' tl'ie axes -of tlie collars; and ring means engag the abutment surfaces and embracing re spectivelya partispherical surface; of oneof the members of the 'j oint.-

3'3 'I'liecombinatiomwitl'i a;splierical'joii1t con'- sisti-ng 'of ball' and socket members =havir'1g parti sphericahext'ernal surfaces; of resilient 'spl-itrings 35 embracing such =surf aces, and aipair of -threaded c01lars' in' thread'ed engagement with one another and' abuttingrespectively against said rings, one

of said collars being of suflicient internal diameter to pass endwise over the end of the female member of the joint and the other collar being of sufficient internal diameter to pass endwise over the male member of the joint.

4. In a joint of the character described, a female member terminating in a protruding flange mergingmithamexternal partiesphericaLsnrface, a. male member. snugly, engaging the: female member and provided with a parti-spherical external surface, a first threaded collar of suflicient internal diameter to be passed endwise past said flanges and having an internal annular shelf, ring, means abutting against said shelf and againstttlieupartiespherical surface of the socket member,,a secondrcollar extending into and adjustably connected with the first collar, the second col-larbeing of sufficient internal diameter tobapassed endwise past the male member and provided internally with an annular surface arranged at an angl-to tlie axes of the-collarsz and second ring means jabutting ag-ainst the lastmentioned surfaceand against the" parti spherioai surface :of thezballlmemberx 5i Thecombination witli a glass ball and' socket joint having pa rtiespheri-calk outer surfaces; of a. clamp: comprising;- all pluralitly of rigid: collars snrrounding-the-joint and-Ein threaxiediconnection with one; another; one=0f said collars'beingrofrsufi fici-enttsizes to:.- be passed endwisemverthe ball; andzzthe: othen ofisufficientrsizewtozbe passed-lend;

.wisefioven thersockett eaehicofillar havingramabuts mentasurface: arranged; at: an: angle. tortheeorithe Joint; ands expansiveuring; means -.engaging respectiveiyv anz abutment surface: of: one: of; the col-la'rsi and" a; pazrtisspheri-cad surface of 1' once of theimemberssofztthejointz CH-ARIlEEeM. 

